The three SEAL sharpshooters each took a single shot, immediately killing three of pirates, Bowes, guitaristDani Evans (21), and bassistGareth Murdock (21). There was no clear shot of drummerIan Wilson (22), who had taken cover behind a well-fortified drum set, but he was captured attempting to escape through the crowd. None of the hostages were injured.

"This is something that was not overly complicated," a venue security guard told our reporter. "The distance was not that far. A few things made it more difficult. They were shooting headbanging targets while they themselves were being tossed about by an excited mob. That's shooting a moving target from a moving bearing, and you need a lot of patience too." A nearby fan shouted "WOOOOOOO! CAPTAIN MORGAN'S REVENGE MOTHERFUCKERS! THEY TOLD YOU!" and threw the horns at our camera.

Alestorm's second full length album, Black Sails At Midnight is still scheduled to be released on May 27th, 2009 on Napalm Records. A free mp3 version of the album was released via rapidshare by the band shortly after recording was completed, accompanied by a proud admission that piracy is a crime. This may be used against Wilson when he is brought to trial under UNCLOS.

Hammerfest is sponsored by Metal Hammer magazine. This was the first year it was held, and it reached full capacity with 2557 tickets sold for £40 - £680 and 1660 tickets awarded in magazine and online contests. The festival covered two days and three stages, with performances by Opeth, Saxon, Hammerfall, Architects, Skindred, Cathedral, Alestorm, Grand Magus, Sabbat, Attica Rage, Wolf, Gama Bomb, Warpath, Mutant, Lethargy, Annotations Of An Autopsy, TYR, Waylander, Sylosis, Trigger The Bloodshed, Evile, Voodoo Six, Mencea, Sacred Mother Tongue, Hollow Earth Theory, Firebrand Super Rock, The Mirimar Disaster, Exit Ten, Dream Evil, Thirteenth Sign, Blood Island Raiders, Kiuas, Tesseract, Bleed From Within, Argent Dawn, Nex, Many Things Untold, The Morning After, Open The Skies, Sworn Amongst, The Dead Lay Waiting, Avarus, and With Chaos In Her Wake. Next year's lineup has not been announced, but
tickets can be purchased at http://hammerfest.co.uk/